Something old, something new

When I reviewed 2010’s iPod nano (sixth generation) (3.5 out of 5 rating), I was in many ways disappointed by the direction Apple had taken the iPod nano line. That model had its share of fans—indeed, thanks to its built-in clip and watch-sized body, an entire industry sprung up around the idea of using the 2010 nano as a wristwatch. But its tiny screen meant its iOS-like Multi-Touch interface was difficult to use and a step backward from physical buttons. If I were rating it today, after a couple years of use, I might give it an even lower rating than I did back in 2010.

Did Apple get similar feedback from users? The company will never tell, but the 2012 iPod nano, available only in a 16GB capacity for $149, ditches the tiny-square-with-a-clip design in favor of one closer to that of the fifth-generation model: At 3.0 inches tall, 1.6 inches wide, and an incredible two tenths of an inch thick—thinner than the plug on a 30-pin dock-connector cable—the new model is essentially as tall and wide as two sixth-generation nano models stacked on top of one another, but half as thick. At 30 grams, the new nano is 8 grams heavier than last year’s model—barely noticeable in everyday use.

The Home screens of the previous iPod nano (top) and the new version (bottom)

In that larger expanse Apple has fit a 2.5-inch (diagonal) Multi-Touch display, nearly an inch larger than the one found on the previous nano. (In terms of pixels, this year’s screen is 240 by 432 pixels, compared to 240 by 240 on the previous model.) The pixel density is slightly lower this time around, at 202 pixels per inch compared to 220 for the 2010 nano, and it doesn’t match the Retina displays on Apple’s iOS devices, but the new display is still clear and easy to read, even for small type.

The new design’s changes don’t end with a larger screen. The 2012 iPod nano also takes a number of cues from the iPhone and iPod touch. The body of the nano is made of aluminum—in your choice of black, purple, blue, silver, green, yellow, pink, or (Product) Red—with smooth, rounded sides and chamfered edges at the top and bottom. The front is white plastic with a physical, iOS-style Home button. On the left-hand edge is a three-button controller (more on these controls below), and on top is a Sleep/Wake button. Apart from the squared-off corners and the lack of a camera hole on the front, the new nano looks very much like a miniature version of the new iPod touch.

Along the bottom edge of the nano are a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left and a Lightning-connector port on the right. Those wondering why Apple has switched from the older 30-pin dock connector to the Lightning connector can look to the nano for rationale: The new nano simply couldn’t have accommodated the older connector. You’ll also notice, between the two ports, a white-plastic area that extends slightly up the back of the nano. That plastic covers the antenna for the new nano’s Bluetooth feature, discussed below.

Let’s get physical

The 2012 nano’s bigger display has obvious advantages for the player’s touchscreen interface, which I’ll talk about in a moment, but the new model also gains some much-needed physical buttons. In my review of the previous nano, I wrote, “As useful as the Multi-Touch screen can be, it’s no substitute for physical playback controls when, say, the iPod is in your pocket, or when you’re trying to skip tracks while running or driving.” And like the previous nano, the new one comes with headphones—specifically, Apple’s new EarPods—that are missing the exceptionally useful inline remote-control module. But unlike its predecessor, the new nano sports a relative abundance of physical buttons.

Dan Frakes Senior Editor, Macworld

Dan writes about OS X, iOS, utilities, cool apps, and troubleshooting. He also covers hardware; mobile, audio, and AV gear; input devices; and accessories. He's been writing about tech since 1994, and he's also published software, worked in IT, and worked as a policy analyst. You can find him on the web at danfrakes.com.More by Dan Frakes